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The Cornell academic year follows a semester system, consisting of a fall and a spring semester, both of which include a final exam week. Each semester must be a minimum of 14 weeks of instruction, yet must combine in fall and spring to a minimum of 30 weeks of instruction. Instructional periods/terms include fall, winter intersession, spring, and summer. In all academic terms, variable-length, short-session courses are available, and meet the same total contact (class) hours as in a standard semester. See the definition of credit/contact hours on this page for additional information.
The university bylaws define the academic year as the approximately nine-month period beginning two working days before registration in the fall term and ending on the last day of final examinations in the spring term.
The summer period is defined as the period between the last day of one academic year and the first day of the following academic year. Summer courses carry full credit because classes meet the name number of contact hours as in the standard fall or spring semester.
View this year’s academic calendar.
2023-2024 Academic Calendar
Fall 2023
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DATE
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EVENT
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August 21
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Instruction Begins
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September 4
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Labor Day - No Classes
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October 7
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Fall Break Begins
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October 9
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day
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October 11
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Instruction Resumes
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November 22
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Thanksgiving Break Begins
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November 27
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Instruction Resumes
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December 4
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Last Day of Instruction
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December 5 - 7
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Study Period
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December 8 - 16
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Scheduled Exams
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December 17
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December Recognition Ceremony
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December 31
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December Degree Date
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Winter 2023-2024
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DATE
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EVENT
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January 2
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Winter Session Instruction Begins
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January 15
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day /
Holiday / No Classes
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January 19
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Winter Session Instruction Ends
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Spring 2024
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DATE
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EVENT
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January 22
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Instruction Begins
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February 24
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February Break begins
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February 28
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Instruction Resumes
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March 30
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Spring Break Begins
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April 8
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Instruction Resumes
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May 7
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Last Day of Classes
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May 11 - 18
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Scheduled Exams
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May 18 - 23
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Senior Days
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May 24 - 26
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University Commencement Weekend
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May 27
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Memorial Day
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Some programs, including Johnson MBA Programs, Law School, and College of Veterinary Medicine have different academic calendars. Please review the respective sites for specifics. These calendars subject to change.
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